Document Type : Scientific Letters
Authors
1
Associate Professor., Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Kurdistan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Sanandaj, Iran
2
Researcher, Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Kurdistan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Sanandaj, Iran.
3
Professor, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, I. R. Iran.
10.22092/irn.2026.371206.1698
Abstract
The Zagros forests have a special place in the economic and ecological development of the country and the Zagros provinces, and guarantee the survival and sustainability of water and soil in a large part of the country. Forest restoration and development is one of the main parameters in the development of these forests. The Zagros Forest Ecosystem Management Plan was developed with the aim of aligning national and regional planning and policies, as well as minimizing the effects of unsustainable development and unprincipled exploitation on the destruction of biological and natural resources of the Zagros forest ecosystems (in 2018). To determine the management strategy of the Zagros forest ecosystem management plan, a participatory approach and opinion poll were used from the Zagros forest management role-players. Subsequently, the SWOT framework questionnaire for this plan was provided to 60 forest management experts, and the respondents evaluated and scored the variables of the four SWOT analysis groups (scoring based on a Likert scale (score 1 to 5)). The ranking of the four SWOT analysis groups was done based on the average and relative weight of the ranking. The selection of strategies was done using the Quantification of Strategies (QSPM). The research findings showed that the most important weaknesses and strengths of the Zagros Forest Ecosystem Management Plan were the failure to implement this plan in Kurdistan Province and the reform of unsustainable livelihoods with the participation of the people. Also, the most important strengths and threats for this plan were, respectively, the reform of unsustainable livelihoods with the participation of local people and the placement of sustainability indicators in development and construction plans in this plan. Based on the opinions of the role players in this plan, an aggressive strategy was determined (+13.34; +8.17). Based on the Quantitative Strategic Matrix (QSPM), three strategies were proposed, including a) focusing restoration and development programs on crisis and degraded areas (S3-O3), b) employing indigenous people in restoration and development projects (S2-O2), and c) launching new livelihoods based on sustainable development indicators (S1-O1). Based on the research findings, it is suggested that participatory management and empowerment of local communities be used more and that forest protection and protection against damaging exploitation be considered.
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